Improvement in the processes of manufacturing felted surgeons  splints



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D. AHL. PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING FELTED SURGEONS'SPLINT S. No. 194,800,Patented Sept. 4,1877.

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D. AHLQ PROCESS OF MANUFACTURINGFELTED SURGEONSY SPLI'NTS. No. 194,800,Patented Sept. 4,1877.

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' D. AHL. PROCESS OF MANUFACTURINGFELTED SURGEONSSPL'INTS. No.19.4.,800.' Patented Sept. 4,1877.

N. PETERS. PHOTO-LH'HUGRAPHEE WASHINGTON, n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT DAVID nn, or nnwvrttn, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE PROCESSES 0F MANUFACTURINGFELTED SURGEONS SPLINTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,800, datedSeptember 4, 1877; application filed June28,1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Dr. DAVID AHL, of Newville, in the countyofCumberland and State 91' Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in the Process of Manufacturing Felted Splints, tobe used by surgeons in the treatment of fractured, enlarged, ordislocated joints or limbs, or formed joints or limbs, or in thetreatment of varicose veins, or indeed any disease wherea surgicalsplint may be desirable in the treatment of men or animals; and I herebydeclare the following to be such a full, clear, and exact description ofmy said invention as will enable any one skilled in' the art of surgeryto make and use it, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings,makingapart of'this specification, said drawings being necessary to aproper understanding of the inventionor its use, and to themanner ofmaking'au'd applying it. i

The object of this invention is to produce and have readyfor useartificial fibrous splints, duly formed, in the proper shape to suit thefractured or injured partof the average size and form of limb or joint,for the use of sur geons in treating fractured, dislocated, enlarged, ordeformed limbs or joints, or varicose veins, which shall be plastic whenhot, flexible and elastic when cold, thoroughly porous, to admit of thenecessary respiration, and at the same time possess the necessarystiffness to properly support the fractured limbor joint undertreatment.

The invention consists of surgeons splints, ready for use, composed offelted clothtreated as follows: First, the cloth is cut in the desiredshape and size to make the difierent size and form of splints. It isthen saturated with a solution composed of shellac and alcohol. It isthen dried and perforated with pointed needles, the perforation beingmade with pointed needles to prevent the fabric from being cut inperforating it. The fabric is then put in a bath of sulphuric acid andwater, strong enough to set and harden the shellac, by which it isslightly contracted, and the perforations made by the needles .slightlyenlarged, thus makingthe cloth more porous. The blank of the unformedsplint is then washed in clean water, after which it is immersed inwater made boiling hot, by which it is made plastic, and, while in thiscondition, it is pressed or worked into the shape of the joint or limbto whichitis to be applied, by means of forms or molds madeto correspondin form and size to the several parts of the various limbs or jointsliable to be treated, a separate splint being made for the differentparts of the va rious limbs or joints, and also a separate mold or formfor each size and form of splint.

In making the splints to be used for the treatment of an adult, thesizes of the various molds and splints are made to correspond to thesizes and forms of the limbs and joints of a man of the average size,taking into account the swelling due to the inflammation of thefractured or injured part, by which the several splints composing a setfor an adult can be applied to men of different sizes, for the splint,being made plastic by dipping it into boiling water, can be enlarged orcontracted enough in its application,and modified enough in its form,tosuitlimbs and joints of different men not differing too much in' sizeand shape. The difference in the size and shape of the limbs of men ofordinary size not being so great but that splints of average size can beadapted to most of them on account of the plastic nature of the splintwhen hot and its'fle'xibility when cold.

The solution of shellac and alcohol with which the blank splints are tobe saturated should consist of about one gallon of alcohol to fourpounds of shellac, and the fabric should be kept in the solution untilit is thoroughly saturated. It should then be taken out and dried, andafterward perforated by means of a board fitted with a series of pointedneedles.

' The bath of sulphuric acid and water in which it is to be immersed,after being perforated, should consist of about one pound of the acid toabout thirty gallons of water. The proportions of these solutions may,of course, be somewhat varied, and different gums, alkalies, and acidsmay be used; but the abovementioned give good results, though I do notmean to confine myself to these particular ingradients or proportions,for there are other modate themselves to the reduction.

ingredients, which are well known, that can be used or substituted. Anyknown gum solution, in alcohol or alkali, or any known acidbath thatwill produce the desired result, will come within the scope of myinvention.

In the drawings are shown some of the principal splints, the number andform of which, however, may be increased and changed to suit theexigency of the surgeon. For example, Figure 1 represents the lowermaxillary splint. It embraces the entire chin, and forms a completesupport to the fractured part, while at the same time it allows by itsflexibility sufficient motion to open the mouth slightly to take foodand drink. It should be retained by what is known as Bartons bandage.

Fig. 2 represents the inferior fore-arm splint for the ulna, and Fig. 3the superior fore-arm splint for the radius. These two splints areintended for all fractures of the fore-arm, and also for sprains anddislocations at the wristjoint, complicated or not with fracture. Veryoften actual fractures of the head of the radius or ulna are diagnosedas sprains, and result in semi-anchylosis. These cases, even when ofseveral months duration, can be treated with complete success with thesesplints. They are also well adapted to treating Bartons fracture,requiring no pads or compresses, and being less likely to'be followed bystiffness of thejoint. They may be used either in combination or alone.As the radius and ulna are more liable to fracture than any other bones,ready-made splints are very convenient.

Fig. 4 represents the elbow-splint. It is for fractures and dislocationsof the radius, ulna, and humerus at or near the elbow-joint. Incombination with the inferior and superior forearm splints, it isadapted to all fractures of the ulna and radius, at the middle or upperthird, or compound comminuted fractures of the same bones. Where bothradius and ulna are fractured, brlngthepartsinto contact, then apply thesplints shown by Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and bandage over all, from the handto the shoulder. If the fracture is comminuted, cut the part or partsout of the splints corresponding to the points of comminution, andbandage around them. The wounds can easily be dressed without disturbingthe splints or bandages. As the swelling is reduced, tighten thebandages, as the splints accom- The elbow-splint is at an obtuse angle,to prevent the lapping of the soft parts, and as being most natural tosling.

Fig. 5 represents the shoulder-splint. Any fracture of the humerus canbe successfully treated by a combination of the shoulder and elbowsplints. The shoulder-splint fits over the exterior face of theshoulder, and is to be used with a short slightly-curved piece, to beapplied to the opposite surface.

Fig. 6 represents the anterior tibia splint.

It is intended for fractures of the tibia proper, and especially forfractures, either simple or compound, in the vicinity of theankle-joint. [t reaches from the knee-joint to the instep, and embracesthe ankle-joint perfectly. Fractures of the malleoli will be readilytreated by the combination of this and the following pieces. There aretwo splints of this kind to each set.

Fig. 7 represents the posterior fibula splint. It is suited to treatingfractures of the fibula proper, and also in the vicinity of theanklejoints, either simple, compound, or comminuted. Figs. 6 and 7 arecombined for a complete apparatus for treating bad compound fractures ofthe tibia and fibula, either of the upper, middle, or lower third, andat the anklejoints. There are two splints to each set, one for the leftand one for the right limb.

Fig. 8 represents the anterior knee-joint splint. It is adapted to treatfractures of tibia, fibula, and femur near the joint, and also, inconnection with the anterior and posterior tibia and fibula splints, totreat all fractures of those bones. There are two splints to each set,one for the right and one for the left knee-joint.

Fig. 9 represents the posterior knee-joint splint. This splint, inconnection with the anterior knee-joint splint, treats fractures of thetibia, fibula, and femur, near the kneejoint, and also the upper thirdof the fibula and tibia, and the lower third of the femur, and also, inconnection with the anterior and posterior tibia splints, treats allfractures of those bones. There are two splints to each set, one for theright and one for the left limb. These splints can be used for the tibiaand fibula also, when fractured above the middle of the shaft. Figs. 8and 9 are used also for fracture of the patella, and are well adapted tokeep it in position.

Fig. 10 represents a club-foot splint for children. It is intended totreat the foot either before or after operation, which it does verysuccessfully.

Fig. 11 represents a splint intended to treat fractures of the femur,and, with the anterior kneejoint splint and posterior knee-joint splint,to treat fracture of the lower third of the femur, and fracturesimplicating the kneejoint and hip-joint. It will also treat fractures ofthe shaft of the tibia and fibula.

Fig. 12 represents a lateral half-boot splint for treating fractures ofthe tibia or fibula laterally, and where the fracture is comminutedlaterally, and where the ankle-joint is fractured, comminuted, ordislocated.

It will, of course, be understood that the size of the splints must bevaried for children, and very large or very small adults. Those shownare intended for men of ordinary size.

Having now described the nature and object of my invention, I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United acid -bath, thenwashing it in cold water,

Statesthen softening it in a bath of boiling water,

The process of manufacturing felted surand moldingit in the desiredform. geons splints, consisting" of the following DAVID AHL, M. D.treatment, viz., first treating the felted blank Witnesses: in asolution of shellac and alcohol, then dry- AMOS BROADNAX, ing andpuncturing it, then treating it in an L. G. GAUELLEON-

